Havana

I am a place where the warm sun tickles your skin and a gentle sea breeze whispers through palm trees. My buildings are painted in happy colors like sunny yellow, cool blue, and bright pink. You can hear happy music playing everywhere, which makes your feet want to wiggle and dance. Old cars that look like shiny, colorful candies roll down my roads. I am Havana, a happy city right by the big, blue sea.

A long, long time ago, friends sailed across the ocean from a country called Spain. On November 16th, 1519, they found my cozy spot by the water and decided to build me. My bay was like a safe pocket where big wooden ships could rest and hide from storms. The ships sometimes carried sparkly treasures, so I grew strong stone castles to watch over them and keep them safe. I became a very important place for ships to stop and say hello before they went on long trips across the sea.

Today, my music is louder and my colors are brighter than ever. People from all over the world come to visit me. They love to see my candy-colored cars and walk along my sea wall, which is called the Malecón. They listen to the fun rhythms of salsa music and dance in my streets. I love to watch families and friends laugh and share happy stories. I am a city full of sunshine and friendship, and I hope my happy song makes your heart dance, too.